Connectors



United States Patent CONNECTORS Stephen Louis Kiassen, Fair Lawn, N. J., assignor to Thermo Electric Co., Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application October 8, 1953, Serial No. 384,845

Claims. (Cl. 339-89) My invention relates to connectors and more particularly to connectors employed in thermocouple leads.

It is well known that where temperature differences occur across connections in thermocouple leads, only connectors having matched thermocouple materials will eliminate errors occasioned by unmatched materials. Furthermore, where accurate temperature readings are required, it is generally recognized that, within the temperature range to which the connectors are sub ected, the temperature E. M. F. characteristics of the materials used to complete the circuit must match those of the thermocouple.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a connector for employment in thermocouple leads and which is constructed of matched thermocouple materials and wherein the contact members are capable of quick assembly and disassembly for circuit making and breaking.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efi'icient in operation, economical in manufacture and capable of use in connection with high temperature turbo-jet aircraft engine thermocouples and harnesses.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which is relatively small and compact, light in weight, and pro vided with contact members of thermocouple materials.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character wherein the contact members are self-cleaning upon assembly and are possessed of a relatively low degree of contact resistance at elevated temperatures.

An important object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character having detachable components which are self-locking when properly assembled and equipped with means for insuring positive locking against accidental release as a safety precaution.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which is equipped with means for insuring positive contact between the contact members should any member become distorted or damaged.

A still further important object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character equipped with means to facilitate and effect disassembly of the components or contact members.

A special object of my invention resides in a method of electrically insulating various parts of the connector from each other.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a coupling constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a detail sectional view of Figure 1 taken on the line 2--2 on an enlarged scale.

My invention, as illustrated in the drawing, comprises a connector having male and female components or sections 5 and 6 provided with outer housings or casings 7 and 8 of stainless steel having interior and exterior threaded hollow inner end portions 9 and 10, respectively, the latter portion 10 being threaded within the other portion 9 for connecting the components together. The housing 7, between the portion 9 and the opposite or outer end 11, is formed with a bore 12 having a zone 13, adjacent the portion 9, of a greater diameter than its adjacent zone 14, to define therebetween a shoulder or seat 15. The housing 8, between its inner and outer ends 16 and 17, respectively, is formed with a bore 18 having an inner zone 19 disposed within the portion 10, of a greater diameter than its opposite or outer zone 20, and connected to the latter zone 20 by a conical shoulder or seat 21.

Male and female contact elements 22 and 23 are disposed within the housings 7 and 8, respectively, with the element 22 being formed with an intermediate flange 24 defining an inner cylindrical contact post 25 formed with a lead-receiving axial opening or cul-de-sac 26 and an outer contact pin or member 27 disposed within the confines of the portion 9. A tubular fitting 28 of stainless steel is snugged within the bore 12 and which is in turn formed with a bore 29 having adjacent zones 30 and 31, respectively, connected together by a conical seat or shoulder 32, the zone 31 being of a greater diameter than the zone 30. The fitting 28 is provided with a shoulder 33 for seating engagement with the shoulder 15 when the components are connected together for use, the housing 7 being mounted about the fitting for rotation with respect to the fitting and the element 22 and axial movement relative thereto and therewith to effect assembly and disassembly of the components 5 and 6 as will hereinafter become apparent.

The element 23 comprises a sleeve formed with inner and outer portions 34 and 35, respectively, with the inner portion 34 being of a greater diameter than the outer portion 35 and connected to the latter portion 35 by a conical shoulder 36, the bore of the outer portion 35 constituting a lead'receiving opening or hole 37. The portion 34 is disposed within the confines of the zone 19 of the bore 18 and is fashioned, at its outer end, with a flange 38 similar to and for coaction with the flange 24 of the contact element 22 as hereinafter disclosed. The bore of the inner portion 34 is of a uniform diameter and constitutes a socket 39 in which is received the contact pin 27, the latter being coniform. The base of the pm 27, adjacent the flange 24, is of a slightly greater diameter than the diameter of the socket 39 whereby the edge of the socket engages the pin to establish electrical contact or engagement therewith and at the same time effect a wiping or cleaning of the contacting surfaces when the pin 27 is inserted within the socket 39. However, should the pin or socket be distorted and/or the pin unduly forced within the socket for its entire length, engagement between the flanges 24 and 38 will be effected to insure an electrical connection between the elements 22 and 23.

Extending within the outer ends 11 and 17 of the sections 5 and 6, are portions 40 and 41,, respectively, of a thermocouple rigid harness lead L. The portion 40 extends into and terminates within the opening 26 and is soldered to the post 25 as at 42, while the portion 41 extends into and terminates within the opening 37 of the portion 35 of the sleeve 23 and is soldered to the sleeve 23 as at 43. In the instance of a lead L of positive polarity, the elements 22 and 23 and portions 40 and 41 are constructed of Chromel while, in the instance of a lead of negative polarity, they are constructed of Alumel.

Adjacent the end 11 of the housing 7 and in spaced relation thereto, the shell 44 has fixed thereto, for instance, by soldering, a collar 51 of stainless steel to facilitate detachment of the elements 22 and 23 as hereinafter more fully described. The housing 7 is formed with openings 52 for the reception of wires or the like to secure the housing 7 to a suitable support against displacement as a safety precaution if desired. The portions 40 and 41 are encased within stainless steel shells or casings 44 and 45 which extend within the fitting 28 and housing 8 and terminate therein in spaced relation from the post 25 and the portion 35, respectively. The casings 44 and 45 are secured in fixed relation with the fitting 28 and housing 8, respectively, by soldering as indicated at 46.

An insulating sleeve 47 of hard fired ceramic is interposed between the post 25 and the fitting 28 and interjacent the shoulder 32 and the flange 24 while a similar sleeve 48 of hard fired ceramic is interposed between the housing 8 and the portion 34 of the element 23 and intermediate the shoulder 21 and the flange 38. Insulating ceramic material 49 is disposed within the shell 44 and about the portion 40 and extends within and fills the bore of the fitting between the post 25 and sleeve 47 and the end of the shell 44. Similarly, the insulating ceramic material 49 is disposed within the shell about the portion 41 and extends within and fills the bore 18 of the housing 6 about the portion 35 and between the sleeve 48 and the end of the shell 45.

The materials set forth herein are by way of examples, it being understood that suitable substitutes may be employed if desired. The insulating ceramic material 49, which is in a granular or powdered form, is compressed within the lead L and worked out of the ends of the shell into the bores 18 and 29 to form an integrant with the parts engaged thereby and thus rigidify the structure. This method of utilizing the ceramic material 49 has been found highly satisfactory in that it functions as an efficient anchor for securing the various related parts together against displacement without causing temperature differences across the portions 40 and 41 and is unaffected by high temperatures.

While in the drawing the components 5 and 6 of my connector are disclosed in connected relation for circuit operation, they may be readily disconnected by rotating the housing 7 relative to the fitting 28 and housing 8 to unscrew the portions 9 and 10 from each other. Should the pin 27, during rotation of the housing 7, tend to resist separation from the sleeve 23, the housing 7, by reason of its threaded connection with the portion 10, will move towards the collar 51, axially With respect to the fitting 28 and element 22, engage the collar 51 (which is in fixity with the pin) and force the pin away from the sleeve 23, thus, effecting disconnection of the components. The components may be coupled or connected together for circuit use by substantially reversing the foregoing operation or manipulation.

Of importance, during assembly or connection of the components, is what I term the self-locking feature wherein the pin 27 wedges within the socket 39 to constitute a wedge lock to preclude displacement or a shaking loose of the pin 27 from engagement with the sleeve 23, for instance, by high frequency vibration even in the event that the housing or coupling nut 7 should become loose or backed off with respect to the portion 10 of the housing 8. Also of importance, is that my connector is so constructed and arranged as to permit the use of high frequency ceramic insulation in connection with connectors utilizing thermocouple materials and subjected to high temperatures. Furthermore, by providing the elements 22 and 23 with the flanges 24 and 38, respectively, for possible abutment, I establish a limited movement of the pin 27 within the socket 39 of the sleeve thereby preventing destruction thereof or distortion even to any appreciable degree, it being understood that due to the relatively small size of the coupling and the parts there of, undue force may be unintentionally and without knowledge applied during assembly of the components. Obviously, the flanges therefore constitute a safety feature with respect to protecting the pin and sleeve from damage.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It is obvious that the invention is not confined solely to the use herein disclosed in connection therewith as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific construction as illustrated and described, as the same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are capable of extended application in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a connector construction, a pair of detachable components having contact members, respectively, one of said members being provided with a conical pin and the other of said members being provided with a socket defined by a rigid cylindrical wall receiving sa1d pm, said pin having a base of a greater diameter than the mouth of said socket to insure positive engagement of sa1d pin with at least the edge of said wall defining sa1d mouth upon insertion of said pin within said socket, sa1d members being provided with flanges about sa1d base and said mouth, respectively, for engagement with each other when said pin is fully disposed within sa1d socket.

2. In a connector construction, a pair of housings threadedly connected together for detachment from each other, contact members disposed within said housings and provided with a conical pin and a socket defined by a rigid cylindrical wall receiving said pin, respectively, a fitting disposed within one of said housings between the latter and the contact member disposed therein, said one housing being movable relative to said fitting for connecting and disconnecting said housings, electrical lead portions extending into said housings and connected to said members, respectively, shells cncasing said portions and fixed to said fitting and the other housing to permit movement of said one housing about said fitting, ceramic insulating means carried within said housings and extending into said shells for insulating said members and portions from said shells and said housings, said pin having a base of a greater diameter than the mouth of said socket to insure positive and wiping engagement of said pin with the edge of said wall defining said socket upon movement of said pin within said socket during connecting of said housings together, and a collar fixed to one of said shells adjacent said fitting for engagement with said one housing when said latter housing is moved axially during detachment of said housings to thus force said pin out of said socket.

3. In a connector construction, a pair of housings threadedly connected together for detachment from each other, contact members disposed within said housings and provided with a prong and a socket defined by a rigid cylindrical wall receiving said prong, respectively, a fitting disposed within one of said housings between the latter and the contact member disposed therein, said one housing being movable relative to said fitting for connecting and disconnecting said housings, electrical lead portions extending into said housings and connected to said members, respectively, shells cncasing said portions and fixed to said fitting and the other housing to permit movement of said one housing about said fitting, and ceramic material insulating said members and portions from said shells and said housings, said contact members being provided with spaced flanges disposed about said prong and said socket, respectively, for abutting engagement with each other when said prong is disposed entirely within said socket to insure positive contact between said contact members.

4. In a connector construction, a pair of housings threadedly connected together for detachment from each other, contact members disposed within said housings and provided with a conical pin and a socket defined by a rigid cylindrical wall receiving said pin, respectively, a fitting disposed within one of said housings between the latter and the contact member disposed therein, said one housing being movable relative to said fitting for connecting and disconnecting said housings, electrical lead portions extending into said housings and connected to said members, respectively, shells cncasing said portions and fixed to said fitting and the other housing to permit movement of said one housing about said fitting, and insulating means carried within said housings and extending into said shells for insulating said members and portions from said shells and said housings, said pin having a base of a greater diameter than the mouth of said socket to insure positive and wiping engagement of said pm with the edge of said wall defining said socket upon movement of said pin within said socket during con necting of said housings together, said contact members being provided with spaced flanges disposed about said base and said mouth, respectively, for abutting engagement with each other when said pin is disposed entirely within said socket to insure positive contact between sa d contact members, a collar fixed to one of said shells ad acent said fitting for engagement with said one housing when said latter housing is moved axially during detachrnent of said housings to thus force said pin out of said socket.

5. Steps in the method of connecting an electrical lead to a connector component, comprising, inserting an end of the lead within the housing of the component, securing the electrical conductor of the lead to an electrical contact element within said housing, connecting the sheath of the lead to said housing in fixed relation thereto and in spatiality with said element, and compressing granular ceramic insulating material about said conductor and through said sheath into said housing against 6 said element to fill said housing and sheath circumjacent said conductor and thus insulate said conductor from said sheath and said housing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,421,017 Lundberg June 27, 1922 2,327,951 Zaleske Aug. 26, 1943 10 2,552,707 Bird May 15, 1951 

